How many 80" bucks do you think hunters just pass on by?

[npaden]

I've been going through the pronghorn guide service field judging quizzes, and am learning that I'm just not that good at field judging pronghorn. I think those might be skewed because most of them end up being bigger bucks, but some of them at first glance just look like your typical 75" buck you expect to see dozens of. It's just after you look at them a bit you realize that they do have heavier mass and with the curve the horns are a bit longer than you thought. I guessed an 82" all time B&C buck on there at 73" and I guessed one at 81" that was only 75". (not many that small on there though)

It is just so close whether they have 5" of mass at the base or 6" of mass. I'm hoping to find a decent buck in Wyoming this weekend, any last minute tips to help me pass up the ones I need to pass up but not pass up the ones that really need a closer look?

I've always kind of used the "prongs above the ears" rule and "base twice as wide as the eye" rule and I think nearly everyone can tell if they have a good prong or not, but not sure if anyone else has any tips or tricks to help.

Thanks, Nathan

 

[BuzzH]

Mass and prongs...

I think where pronghorn in wyoming get mis-judged is the mass above the prong more so than the lower 2 mass measurements.

If they look thin above the prong, almost never touch 80.

I look at bases, prongs, then mass above. Also pay attention to body size and head size.

I don't worry f-all about length, lots of wyoming bucks are 14-15.5 that book.

 

[wisconsinteacher]

Do you have a link to the websites that allow you to judge them?

 

[npaden]

Field Judging

Practice your pronghorn field judging skills on these bucks. Click a picture and it takes you to a scoring form and video of that buck. Submit your entry and find out the real score (or what we...

www.pronghornguideservice.com

Kind of annoying because you have to enter your name and email each time but very eye opening.

 

[corndog1]

Sounds like you should shoot the first 73" buck you see

 

[MaddH]

Mass and prongs...

I think where pronghorn in wyoming get mis-judged is the mass above the prong more so than the lower 2 mass measurements.

If they look thin above the prong, almost never touch 80.

I look at bases, prongs, then mass above. Also pay attention to body size and head size.

I don't worry f-all about length, lots of wyoming bucks are 14-15.5 that book.

100%

 

[MaddH]

My neighbor just shot a “small” 14” buck that I told him about. He said he was ashamed he shot such a tiny one. I knew it was a good buckwhen o sent him out to look. Taped out at 80 1/2” because of mass

 

[bonedogg]

For an antelope to be book big, he needs to wow you in some way. When you see him you will know he is big as he looks like no other antelope you have seen. Some will be sneaky, but most will knock your socks off at first glance.

still one of the hardest critters to judge on the hoof, add in body size variations from the North end of their range to the south end and it can be daunting..

look for two stove pipes that seem to blur when you glass him, and he's a keeper.

 

[npaden]

I guess things haven’t changed much since the last time I had this tag.

Judging pronghorn is hard!

Spent the day scouting by myself. Looked at somewhere between 50 and 75 bucks at least. These are the top bucks. Even looking at them in pictures I can’t get a good feel. The first buck actually looked the biggest in real life and had some smaller bucks with him that he dwarfed. The...

www.hunttalk.com

Greenhorn never did give the scores of the bucks he posted pictures of.

 

[MTTW]

Does this help?

 

[appaloosa]

Easily the hardest animal to score on the hoof. I have been fooled many times in both directions.

 

[DFS]

Does this help?
View attachment 386154

No

 

[MTTW]

No

If you are wondering what GH's bucks score this is what the best 5 from MT score. If you think you can look at a picture of someone else's antelope and go out and judge an antelope, you are shitting yourself.

 

[DFS]

If you are wondering what GH's bucks score this is what the best 5 from MT score. If you think you can look at a picture of someone else's antelope and go out and judge an antelope, you are shitting yourself.

Agreed.

 

[npaden]

If you are wondering what GH's bucks score this is what the best 5 from MT score. If you think you can look at a picture of someone else's antelope and go out and judge an antelope, you are shitting yourself.

Pretty sure the bucks he posted pictures of in the other thread were Wyoming bucks. He posted several pictures from different angles then posted the dead pictures. He said that other hunters had driven right by a couple of the bucks. I guessed the scores but he never came back and told me how far off I was. Hopefully he is measuring a giant Arizona bull elk right now.

Looking at pictures and videos of antelope followed by the score especially with the individual measurements sure can’t hurt when it comes to judging an antelope on the hoof. Might not get it perfect but the more you do it the better you are going to get.

Obviously I need to keep looking.

 

[Gerald Martin]

I can say with confidence that I’ve never passed an 80” antelope….

Pretty sure I’ve never seen an 80” antelope when I’ve been antelope hunting.

 

[mtmuley]

My neighbor just shot a “small” 14” buck that I told him about. He said he was ashamed he shot such a tiny one. I knew it was a good buckwhen o sent him out to look. Taped out at 80 1/2” because of mass

Done that. mtmuley

 

[Firedude]

Buzz is the expert in this arena... Buzz. Buzz is your guy. I think his name is Buzz. He fights hard for your rights as a non resident... he's there arguing for us non residents to hunt. Might want to have his back.

I drew a tag and killed a 79 5/8 antelope due to the little help he gave me. Oh yeah his name is Buzz. If Buzz asks for help ... might want to pay attention to Buzz. Anywhere in Wyoming Buzz is kind of the guy to ask....

If Buzz asks we should all kind of step up...

I watched 2 guys drive up and pass this buck. He doesn't look it but he's big. I'd shoot him again without hesitation. I was so happy being in THE BALLPARK of Boone and Crockett.

 

[Valley1320]

Mass is king. Like someone else said on hear look for the mass above the cutters. If it's pencil horned above the cutters keep looking.

 

[Roebuck]

If your looking for 80, Divide the horn into equal 20’s.

15” length + 5” prong = 20
7”+7”+3.5”+2.5” mass = 20

Adjust up or down based on what your seeing.